Don't Worry 'Bout a Ting- Notting Hill Carnival

Lisa, Kate and I woke up at the crack of dawn yesterday on one of England's bank holidays (aka there is a big event going on, and no one wants to travel around the city because of it). Bank holidays are absolutely the BEST around here- everyone goes to the nearest beer garden and soaks in the sun and enjoys life for the day. People in England seem to generally take things much easier than in the States, and I totally dig it. Anyway, I digress.

We woke up at 8am to pop a bottle of champagne (aka cheap bubbly white wine- we're students, we're poor- sue us.) We made some mimosas and ate some muffins (that we hadn't made... lol ain't nobody got time fo dat) and jammed the early morning away to some reggae. We left for Notting Hill and when we arrived it was already packed! 
We bought whistles and composed a tune so we'd be able to find each other incase we got separated.. (*long, long, short- short, long*) It actually came in useful a time or two! 

We started walking and found several streets set up with gigantic speakers, street food, and venders selling reggae wigs and t-shirts. There were also dancers of all sizes dressed in feather and jewel adorned bikinis. I LOVED that all the girls were ROCKIN' their costumes, no matter what their size or shape. Girl power. 







We ate a few lunches- why? because we could- and the jerk chicken was DELICIOUS... both times. We also found tasty drinks that got progressively smaller and more expensive as the day wore on. Those first big pint glasses were to die for, though! Cheers!




A parade was moving through the streets the entire day, I don't know how the girls kept dancing. The floats were so colorful and alive. 

Each street we walked down was so unique from the last. One of my favorites had so many cool street art boards. All of the residents and shops in the area had boarded up for the event. Apparently, it can get pretty rowdy with fights and riots? We saw a little bit of that when we were in line for the portapotties and a group of people got in a HUGE fight over who was next. You haven't lived until you see a large dude punch another large dude out over a portapotty. Good Lord. 

Kate & Liis
in the streets!
Put the lime in dat coconut, girl!







By 2pm you literally couldn't move on the streets. We met up with our friends, Tom and Lilly, and it was a miracle we found them. By 5pm we couldn't stand the rowdy crowds, and I was stepping on bottles of Hennessy more often than I was asphalt. However, I will never forget the experience, or the sense of community I felt from the Afro-carribbean peeps. I'm glad we were able to join the party. If you want to see more pics from the day go to my album on Facebook. 

Cheers, y'all!

Carly